The Adventures of a Calamari Queen – Page 39 – Christian, Wife, Mommy, Homemaker, Retired nurse, Fur-mama,living a simple and minimal life!

Father’s Day 2015!

Hello Everyone! Hope you had a good Fathers day weekend. Ours was great! We had some nice, sunny weather in the Pacific North West. Saturday, Hubs and I, with our travel buddy Riley, went to the Tolt River (Carnation,WA) and spent Saturday afternoon there. The river water was pretty clear and low and they have an area were public fishing was opened and several people just did that.

I can't even with this picture! — I can’t even with this picture!

Sunday, Father’s Day, we had hamburgers to celebrate my Father In law. We ate on our patio and enjoyed the nice Sunday evening. My Dad is not with us anymore so Father’s day is kinda sad for me but I hope you guys had a great time with your Dads and celebrate them while they are still here! Have a great rest of your day, I’m off to garden right now:)

with Baby lexy (goodness eyebags for days!)

Giada

One thing me and my sisters wanted to do in Vegas was to dine at Giada De Laurentii’s new restaurant in the Strip (Cromwell Hotel) because it got good reviews and personally I really like Giada. I usually watch her Food Network shows and I have 2 of her cookbooks. I even went to Costco when she had her cookbook released and I waited in line to get it signed. I’m sort of a fan! This is her first restaurant so I figured I might as well check it out. The atmosphere was really nice, we were seated at the window so we got a good view of the Bellagio fountain and the Strip.

It was a pricey dinner for what we had (I think, the Hubs kinda disagree!). The food was good but the servings were kinda small for the prices ( I guess we need to expect that in a fine dining place). Although the food was good, Zach was unlucky because he didn’t like his order. He got the lobster ravioli (the servers recommendation) and it was pathetic. I tasted the ravioli and I can’t believe Giada would allow that dish to be served in her restaurant. The pasta was too al dente and BLAND and the lobster was overcooked! I wouldn’t recommend their lobster ravioli. Despite Zach’s order, we had a good experience and the service was fast. We will most likely be back here if we happen to be in Vegas but we’ll just skip the raviolis 😉

Meat and Cheese platter! I love their Parmesan and Prisciutto — Meat and Cheese platter! I love their Parmesan and Prosciutto

She put her name everywhere, from plates to the placemats!

Lobster Ravioli (looks good but this was so BLAND)

Lemon SPaghetti with shrimps (this was good) — Lemon Spaghetti with shrimps (this was good)

There was a photobooth outside the restaurant but we didn't bother checking it out. — There was a photobooth outside the restaurant but we didn’t bother checking it out.

Vegas!

The Hubs and I just got back from Vegas 2 days ago to attend a family friends wedding. The Bride is my sister Cynthia’s SIL and they are like extended family to us. My other sister Rosell also attended so it was like a mini reunion for me and my sisters. It was such a fun wedding and so happy that Zach and I got to see Trisha and Shane (Bride and Groom) on their special day. Aside from the wedding, I’m glad we got to spend some time with my sisters doing “Vegas” thing like watching a show, having a nice dinner at Giada, and enjoying the pool at Caesars palace ( we stayed at the Hard Rock hotel too), buffet dinner at Bacchanal and Wicked spoon and experienced the HighRoller at the LINQ.

We are back at home now and I’m just resting because since we got home, I’m having a nasty cold and I’ve been pretty miserable since. The Hubs is taking care of me and Riley. I hope you’re all having a good weekend!

strolling around The Forum Shops with my sisters

Dinner at Wicked Spoon (Cosmopolitan Hotel)

Pretty Bride Trisha (her Bachelorette party)

great view during the Bachelorette Party (Cosmopolitan Hotel)

excuse my double chin! this was such a fun night celebrating the couple! — excuse my double chin! this was such a fun night as we celebrate the couple!

Pool time (Caesars Palace, I love this place)

enjoying the sun and relaxing at the Pool

great way to see the Vegas view at night

preparing for a group picture with the newly weds

Father of the Bride, Trisha, Brother of the Bride

My sis and her husband Chad (brother of the Bride)

Reception at the Palms — Reception at the Palm

I love this picture of my Brother in law Chad and his brother Landon! such a happy picture.

Congratulations to Trisha and Shane! You two are such a fun couple and we wish you a lifetime of Love and Happiness!

Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day! I’m not an American citizen by birth, but I’m so grateful for the sacrifices of the American soldiers. Freedom is not Free! So many gave their lives so we can enjoy the lives we have right now. I love living in this country and what it stands for! Land of the free because of the Brave. (picture courtesy from www.memorialdayusa.com)

We had BBQ tonight because aside from Memorial day, we are having late birthday celebrations for my In laws. They were on vacation during their actual birthdays. We had burgers….sooo good, chicken wings, chips, homemade guacamole, and cake. It was a simple but special time with my In laws.

sweet corn with parsley (lots of butter!)

Oh my goodness, Riley so spoiled! I think he’s enjoying a belly rub from his Auntie

love Rileys face here! — love Riley’s face here!

Daniel’s Broiler

Hello Everyone! A couple of weeks ago, the Hubs and I and Sis In Law Julia had dinner at Daniel’s Broiler at Lake Union. We’ve been here twice already and we like the place, food was decent but when it comes to steaks we still prefer John Howie in Bellevue (the best steakhouse for us ) near Seattle. The restaurant was kinda pricey for the quality of the food we had, and they messed up Zach’s steak order but they we’re quick to offer a solution (great customer service there!). The waiter felt bad for him and ended giving us free dessert. So that was nice. Although we had a good experience, we think it’s going to be a while that we will visit Daniel’s again!

Crispy Artichoke heart ( we really liked this one)

Filet Mignon (my order) I really enjoyed this one — Filet Mignon (my order) I really enjoyed my steak! Delicious but not as good as John Howie

SIL's order:Lobster salad — SIL’s order:Lobster Cub salad

Julia what you doing?! — Julia you feeling full?hehe

His "they messed up my steak" look! — His “they messed up my steak” look!

Wedding Guests!

This weekend, the Hubs and I (together with my In laws) attended a family friend’s wedding and it was such a nice event. It’s one of the best weddings we’ve attended in a long time. The Ceremony was beautiful, the place was cozy, and the food was delicious! The Bride is a childhood friend of Zach’s and both their parents knew each other for a long time. Congratulations to Dan and Noelle! The Best is yet to come…

Pretty Bride! And how cute is this little peony

Zachs Parents and Noelle (Bride) moms — Zach’s Parents and Noelle’s (Bride) mom

so much fun! smores table — so much fun! s’mores table

Fatty was waiting for us when we got home!

Mother’s Day 2015!

Hello everyone! It’s been a while since my last post but I’m still here doing the usual “wifey” stuff. I hope you guys had a great weekend (Mother’s Day weekend). We invited my In Law’s last Sunday to have dinner with us and celebrate Mothers Day for my MIL. It was a nice and quite one, we ordered sushi from our favorite local sushi place and got some shrimp and crab cakes from our local fish market (we are so lucky to live in this area because we have a lot of good, quality markets around, we don’t have to go to Seattle for that). I’m so grateful for my Mom (she’s in the Philippines now) for raising me and my siblings well. She’s so selfless. I’m also thankful for my MIL who has treated me like her own since I met her. I’m so blessed in that department.

crab cakes and roast shrimp with umami sauce

Strawberry,feta,candied walnuts,apple salad

What We Wore: Cruise Edition!

Hello Everyone! I hope you’re having a great Wednesday. I’m going to link up with The Pleated Poppy – “What I wore” because personally it’s fun for me and great to get some ideas / inspiration from other women’s fashion style. During our Cruise vacation we decided to just bring carry on bags (one for each of us) because the check in fee was $25 each so for roundtrip it will cost us $100 if we were both going to check luggage (nobody has time for that $100!). We are going to the Caribbean so we thought we’ll mostly bring casual clothes like shorts, bathing suits, light shirts. I packed minimally (I thought!) but we still had clothes that we didn’t wear. Anyways, I didn’t buy anything new for this trip but I did shop for my husband because he needed new rash guard shirts and some shorts.

We took a red flight so I wanted to be comfy; leggings and sweater: Target, Talbots top, Brooks running shoes — We took a red eye flight so I wanted to be comfy; leggings and sweater: Target, Talbots top, Brooks running shoes

Dress:Ross (I think, really old), Tory Burch Reva Flats and clutch

My Hubs! Pants and Shirt:Nordstrom; Cole Haan Shoes

Sea Day! so I wanted casual attire. Top:Maurices, Pants: Lilly Pulitzer, Tory Burch flipflops — Sea Day! So I wanted casual attire. Top:Maurices, Pants: Lilly Pulitzer, Tory Burch flipflops

Top:Target, JCrew shorts,Tory burch flipflops

Old navy tshirt, Speedo shorts (I got from Nordstrom), Clarks flipflops

Maxi dress from Ross, Wedge: J Crew, Tory Burch clutch

Hubs: Old Navy shirt, Speedo shorts; On me: Forever21 romper, Tory Burch Flipflops, Target hat, Rebecca Minkoff mini mac bag

Everything from Target! I love me some target:)

Nike shirt, Target shorts (I think, his shorts was really old so I can't remember) — Nike shirt, Target shorts (I think, his shorts were really old so I can’t remember)

Target dress (another old one) — Target dress/coverup (another old one)

Dress: Gap, Rebecca Minkoff bag, Target flats

My sister gifted me this dress and it this was super comfy!

Old Navy shirt, SPeedo shorts (another sea day)

Nassau, Bahamas

The last Island that we visited was Nassau, Bahamas! It was our least favorite just because it was too crowded and the weather was too hot for us (like the sun eating your skin). We checked out Paradise Point, some parts of the Atlantis Resort (that’s opened to the public) and spent the rest of our time at Cabbage Beach (which was gorgeous but too wavey for me!).

little selfie while waiting to get out of the cruise ship

was excited to see starbucks bahamas so I can buy their "you are here collection" but they don't have it — was excited to see starbucks bahamas so I can buy their “you are here collection” but they didn’t have it

we had drinks and croch fritters before going back to the ship — we had drinks and conch fritters before going back to the ship

St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands!

Our 2nd Island to visit was St. Thomas, US Virgin Island! This was another beautiful Island, I only wanted to do 2 things here and that was to see Magens Beach Bay (I heard that it’s voted one of the best beaches in the world; National Geographic Magazine!), second thing to do was visit Paradise Point to get a good of view the Island. After getting off from the cruise ship, we got a taxi right away going to Magens Beach because it can be so crowded and I wanted to take pictures when it’s less busy. When we got there, it didn’t disappoint! My goodness the water was so calm surrounded by a lagoon, crystal clear blue water! If you get to visit St. Thomas and have limited time, you gotta see Magens Beach, it’s one of the best beaches in the Caribbean in my opinion! *I’ve read somewhere that Bella and Edward (Twilight series) shot some scenes here in their honeymoon part of the movie. I can’t confirm that though because I don’t think I’ve seen all the movie/series.*

I took this pic inside the taxi, I can't get over how pretty the color is! — I took this pic inside the taxi, I can’t get over how pretty the color is!

Our next stop was Paradise Point (it was just walking distance from our cruise). They have an entrance fee of $21,kinda pricey but the gondola ride was nice and quick (the view was worth it).

Zach took this pic, inside the gondola (going up)